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This week’s blog is a guide to some of Italy’s best golf courses and hotels. Italy is a favourite European golfing destination with its stunning countryside, cultural cities and most importantly, fantastic golf courses. A golf holiday here can easily be combined with a city break or even a beach getaway on one of the many stunning coastal areas. While a golf holiday in Italy normally demands a higher and a more flexible budget, it is fair to say that the quality on offer for both the accommodation and golf is well worth the price. All of the golf courses and hotels featured in this blog would make an unbeatable option for your next golf escape to Italy. For an unforgettable golf break with culture, fantastic food, excellent golf and luxury hotels, Italy is a great option.

First up is the Golf Club Bologna, located in the highly sought-after region of Emilia Romagna. The Golf Club Bologna is one of the original golf courses in Italy, responsible for the country’s fantastic reputation in the golfing world. On this golf course, players can truly appreciate the stunning Italian countryside with sweeping panoramic views across the neighbouring rolling hills of Bologna. This classic Italian golf course is situated in the heart of the hills surrounding Bologna, and it has recently undergone renovations so that the golf course could maintain its high standards while retaining its original charm. While the golf course itself here is the main attraction, the golf club restaurant is rumoured to be of a particularly high standard, and it has even been rated in the top ten golf club restaurants in the whole of Italy on multiple occasions.

This par 72 is widely considered to be a must-play golf course for any serious player on their next golf holiday in Italy. This golf course is not just known for its beautiful views; it is a golf course that players frequently return to in search for an invigorating round of golf on a truly unique layout. The architects of the Golf Club Bologna, Cotton and Harris, succeeded in their aims to utilise the natural landscape’s terrain to create a fantastic layout that can accommodate all golfers. This excellent golf course has hosted the Italian Amateur Championships multiple times, which hardly comes as surprising with its great reputation and impeccable condition.

For a luxury golfing getaway in Sicily, a beautiful region in the Italian countryside, the Il Picciolo Etna Golf Resort and Spa is a fantastic option. The resort is set next door to the Il Picciolo Golf Club, set deep in the rolling hills of Mount Etna National Park. The Mount Etna National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage, and it is widely considered to be one of Italy’s best treasures. Alternatively, when guests are taking a break from challenging the fairways of the local golf courses, they can tour some of the best-known wine vineyards in Sicily. Aside from its fantastic location to help guests make the most out of the Italian countryside, the Il Picciolo Etna Golf Resort and Spa is also an excellent accommodation option with its luxury guest rooms and range of leisure facilities including an extensive spa facility and a large outdoor swimming pool.

Conveniently for guests at the Il Picciolo Etna Golf Resort and Spa, a fantastic round of golf is never far away. The Il Picciolo Golf Club is located just a stone’s throw away from the hotel. This golf club was designed by one of the most prestigious golf architects in Italy, Luigi Rota Carenmoli, so a great round of golf is basically guaranteed. Just like the resort, the golf club is set next to the stunning landscapes of the Mount Etna National Park, meaning golfers can enjoy beautiful views throughout their round. Despite the creation of other modern golf courses in the Sicilian golf courses, the Il Picciolo Golf Club has never failed to attract golfers back to play year after year. Golfers can enjoy a stern test of golf here with a unique and tight layout that is sure to test every aspect of their game.

Another great accommodation option for a luxury golf holiday in Italy is the Acaya Golf Resort and Spa, situated in an idyllic position on the rolling hills of the Italian countryside. The resort boasts an ideal location, just a stone’s throw away from one of the many stunning beaches that Southern Italy is known so well for. At this resort, golfers can easily combine their golf break in Italy with many cultural excursions, including the well-known Basilica di Santa Croce. If the location of this fantastic resort is not enough to draw in the likes of golfers, then the guest rooms and leisure facilities are sure to sway them. All of the guest rooms here give guests the opportunity to fully appreciate the Acaya Golf Resort and Spa’s beautiful setting in the Puglia countryside. Aside from the neighbouring Acaya Golf Club, the resort is home to a wide selection of leisure facilities including two outdoor swimming pools and a large spa facility, giving guests the opportunity to completely relax.

The Acaya Golf Club offers players a great round of golf in a stunning setting in the Puglia region. This golf course is not for the faint-hearted, but with multiple tee-off options, even amateurs will not have to miss out on the golf course’s beautiful landscapes and unique layout. The Acaya Golf Club is known for its several tricky holes that force golfers to carefully select their next club or iron in order to maintain a steady scorecard. While its stunning landscape creates multiple beautiful panoramic views throughout, it can also add to the challenge at hand. Players must manoeuvre their shots across the dense areas of forest and greenery, as well as an abundance of water hazards that are generally found more on the back nine. While the most stunning views can be found on the front nine holes here, players are swiftly thrown into the challenge in the back nine where they will find their skills tested the most.

One of the most luxurious accommodation options in Italy includes the Borgo Egnazia, an architecturally beautiful hotel located in close proximity to Lecce. In Lecce, guests can find a great range of bars and authentic Italian restaurants to serve every taste and budget, as well as many cultural excursions, including the Castle of Charles V. The hotel is a sight in itself with its stunning architecture set out like a traditional village, overlooking the neighbouring rolling hills of the Italian countryside. Guests will never find themselves short of things to do or see here with a wide range of luxury leisure facilities, including an impressive four swimming pools, creating the perfect setting for guests to truly relax and soak up the Italian sun. Guests are provided with the ideal opportunity to indulge in relaxation at the hotel’s award-winning spa, the Vair. After a round of golf at the San Domenico Golf, guests are sure to need a good relaxation session! The San Domenico is widely considered to be among some of the best golf courses in Italy, and the challenge it presents to even the most experienced of golfers is said to be unmatched. Conveniently for golfers staying at the Borgo Egnazia, an unforgettable round of golf here is never far from reach.

The Borgo Egnazia is truly a five-star hotel in every aspect, and this does not stop at its restaurants. Lecce is just down the road from this hotel, home to a wide range of Italian restaurants. However, if guests decide to have a relaxed evening and stay local, then they are still guaranteed to have a fantastic meal at the hotel’s Due Camini restaurant, a Michelin-starred restaurant. After a great meal, guests will not struggle to find an idyllic setting for a well-deserved nightcap as the hotel is home to three great bars serving a wide range of alcoholic and soft drinks.

The Bogogno Golf Resort is yet another new addition to the fantastic range of accommodation on offer in Italy. Ideal for golfers, the Bogogno Golf Resort is home to two spectacular golf courses, the Del Conte and the Bonora. Both of these golf courses offer a stern test of golf across a stunning landscape with panoramic views of the Lake Maggiore, and the best part is that they are only a stone’s throw away from the hotel. Here, golfers can truly take in the peace and idyllic atmosphere of the Italian countryside, away from all of the hustle and bustle of Milan, located just an hour’s drive away. Alternatively, the Golf Club Castelconturbia is also just a ten-minute drive away from the resort, so it is fair to say that golfers here are in the best position to enjoy all the golf that Italy has to offer.

The location of the Bogogno Golf Resort is not its only attraction; the hotel offers a personal boutique-style stay with just fifty guest rooms. The guest rooms here are particularly spacious, even for a four-star hotel. All of the guest rooms have a private balcony where guests can enjoy stunning views across the two golf courses next door and Lake Maggiore. Guests can have a truly relaxing golfing getaway here with the hotel’s fantastic leisure facilities including an excellent spa facility, as well as an outdoor swimming pool and private tennis courts. In the afternoon, after a gruelling round of golf in the morning, guests can have some ‘R and R’ lounging around the adults’ only swimming pool. In the evening, after a great meal at the hotel restaurant, guests can enjoy a well-deserved drink on the roof terrace overlooking the Monte Rosa.

Last but not least is the Mare Pineta Resort, the perfect option for a relaxing golfing getaway for all those looking to enjoy some of the excellent golf that Italy has to offer. The Mare Pineta Resort is a popular choice for golfers looking for an unforgettable golfing getaway comprising of sun, sea and of course, fantastic golf. The hotel is set in an idyllic pine forest, just a few minutes’ walk away from the beach where the resort has its own private stretch of coastline with designated sun loungers, a bar and parasols. Guests here can enjoy the best of both worlds, located a short distance away from the beach and the lively tourist centre of Cervia where guests can find a wide range of bars and restaurants to suit every budget and preference. Alternatively, if guests fancy a more relaxed evening and decide to stay local, then the hotel has a great restaurant in the resort and another located at the beach with a sun terrace overlooking the sea.

The Mare Pineta Resort is five-star in every aspect, from its leisure facilities, private beach club, and modern guest rooms. The resort offers guests a range of rooms, suites and apartments, all luxuriously furnished and with all of the modern necessities one would expect at a five-star resort. The apartments are perfect for families or small golfing groups as they can accommodate for up to five guests. However, the resort’s beach club is arguably its main selling point, with designated sunbeds and ‘Bali beds’, as well as a restaurant and lounge bar area. Here, guests can understand the popularity of Italian coastal regions with such easy access to the neighbouring stunning beach. Alternatively, if guests would prefer a more upbeat golf holiday, then the resort will definitely have something for them with several private tennis courts and a tennis club for tuition.

We hope that you have enjoyed this week’s blog highlighting Italy’s best golf and its most luxurious resorts and hotels. Italy is a fantastic option for your next golf break in Europe with great food, stunning beaches, luxury resorts and most importantly, world-class golf courses. For all those looking for an unforgettable golf escape with the perfect balance of sun, sea and golf, then Italy is certainly the unbeatable option for you. If you are still finding yourself unpersuaded, then give us a call on 01342 811777, and we will do our best to change your mind.